On Tuesday Love Peace & Slander was blessed to sit down and catch up with an artist we’ve had our eye on for a while now. Artist, Entrepreneur and founder of FAMFIRST MUSIC GROUP PUBLISHING INC. or FAMFIRST. Mone participated in our artist Q&A session of which below are the results. She has been carefully crafting her sound line after line, mixing genres, original levels of production and . Perfecting her love of and skill in rapping she blends her natural singing ability into her latest tracks “Grieve” & “Mood.” Mone has been busy performing and exposing her sound to new crowds from Florida, NYC, Atlanta and Paris in 2019. Mone reflected on the elements in her life that built the artist we know today. Her mom encouraging her to sing and her time behind bars reinforced her resolve to make her mark in music. Through FAMILY FIRST MUSIC she’s had the opportunities to partner with other groups and artists and chose to stay independent, stay true to what music comes from her heart and mind and not fall into what is being packaged and sold to the masses. With the trend of rap seemingly looking to the underground and it’s past for new life Mone is in the right place at the right time armed with a lifetime of confidence and soul to rock stages around the globe and I hope she touches them all. ⁃ Mistah Earl Grey
LPS: What’s your Musical background?
Mone: I started off writing poems at age 7 and from that had my first poem published in Essence magazine at age 9. I then started recording music in studios at age 13 with everything being self taught through trial and error
LPS: What does your work aim to say/What is the message you want to get across?
Mone: My work and my message are my purpose. I want to change the world through thought & increase the collective consciousness of those who are put here to help me change it including Black power, ownership and generally balancing the scales of this unjust society.
LPS: does your work comment on current social or political issues and do you feel that is something important to emphasize in music?
Mone: My music is meant to teach and inspire. My upcoming work is about us all finding the GOD within. The part of us that strives for excellence and magnifying it so everyone can reach their full potential.
LPS: Who are your biggest influences in life?
Mone: My biggest influences are, my 4th grade teacher Mrs. Jackson, Michael Jackson, Prince, Biggie, Colin Kaepernick, and my Mom and Nana.
LPS: How have you developed your career and what made you take that path?
Mone: I went from being an artist that just wanted to perform for crowds of people to wanting to be a business mogul. I want to own 100% of my brand and product as well as start other businesses. I have plans to develop businesses in impoverished communities to give them advantages they would not otherwise have. I see artist with platforms all the time that are silent on the issues that affect us as a whole and I can’t fathom having a voice and not using it for the greater good.
@FFMGMONE ON EP 10 OF LOVE PEACE & SLANDER PODCAST
LPS: How do you seek out/find new opportunities to expand your growth as an artist?
Mone: I never keep a closed mind when it comes to opportunities. I evaluate the benefits as well as the disadvantages and if the good out weighs the bad its a no brainer but I’m always looking to try out new things.
LPS: How do you navigate the music scene as far as picking and choosing right vs wrong opportunities/beats/producers etc?
Mone: As far as navigating the music scene with opportunities, I normally gravitate towards good energy and vibes. If its a promotional opp then its gotta be a win win for everyone involved but the vibe has to be right. I don’t work with people if I feel they genuinely don’t want to work with me creatively on their own and see me as a stepping stone.
LPS: Which current music trends if any are you following?
Mone: I am not following any current music trends. If I happen to hear something and its dope to me I fux’ with it, but for the most part I be in my own world.
LPS: What keeps you going and why do you what you do? What’s your dream goal with your music?”
Mone: What keeps me going is the message. We don’t realize how powerful music is. I believe the Universe has big plans for me to deliver a message for an entire generation behind me that will use music as guidance for their journey. I want to make songs that challenge the conventional thinking given to us by our parents and offer something new. My dream goal is to be able to give back in major ways!!
LPS: What is the best feeling/most memorable moment continuing to pursue music has ever given you?
Mone: The best feeling is performing in front of strangers and having that lasting encounter with 1 or 2 of the audience that approaches me after to tell me how much they really felt that. Best feeling EVER!
LPS: What’s the origin of your professional name and have you ever held another or did this stick from jump?
Mone: My first rap name was Cosmo because I truly felt this natural bond with the Universe in my teenage years. As the music started reflecting more of my life I felt it was only right to give the world me completely and so Mone (moan)which is short for Simone (my govt) is what I prefer now.
LPS: Do you have/belong to a record label? Are you a member of any music organizations?
I have a publishing company calked, FamFirst Music Group Publishing Inc. and I am registered with ASCAP, BMI, and SoundScan.
LPS: Where have you performed? What are your favorite and least favorite venues? Do you have any upcoming shows?
Mone: I’ve performed in so many places. My favorite venue to date was Mist in Harlem at Ron Grant’s Open Mic. It was the first time I performed with a live band on a stage full of dope performers. I don’t have a least favorite venue but I do have a least favorite platform but I wont put them on blast. Last Saturday I performed in Queens at a private 420 sesh and I will be in ATL Oct 19th at Chit Chat lounge in Decatur.
LPS: Which songs do you perform most frequently?
Mone: Mood, Grieve, and How’s Life at the moment but I try to switch up to new content at least every 2 months.
LPS: Could you briefly describe the music-making process?
Mone: A thought, bar, or melody hits the brain, usually when I am in no position to write it down lol (I still use paper and pen for every song) then I build the melody more in my head, words start to form. If I don’t have a beat I find a producer that can build one and BOOM we lit!
LPS: How has your music evolved since you first began ?
Mone: When I first started making music the lyrics were always superb but I was angry back then. My music in my teen years sounded a lot like mainstream music does now. As I get older I realize I’m responsible for what I put out and the energy it brings. As I started becoming more positive so did my content. Now I can channel that same angry energy into something positive like making songs against the machine and motivating the people to use their voice. Years ago I had to find my voice because before that I was straight screaming on the track. Smh.
LPS: What advice do you have for other up and coming artist?
Mone: DO NOT QUIT. You’re gonna hear a lot of no’s. Your closest family and friends will not support you and you’ll get frustrated because of this it will feel like everything is against you, why bother. If you are passionate about it, you love making music and you know in your heart this is what you are supposed to be doing… LET NOTHING STOP YOU! Stay focused, optimistic, and fight for whats rightfully yours! You got this.
LPS: Is there anyone you’d like to acknowledge for offering financial or emotional support?
Mone: I wanna thank the Universe for all of my many blessings. My Mom for being my backbone. My Nana for making sure I eat! Tara Thomas for taking a chance with me and Lady Steele for ALWAYS looking out with opportunities, guidance, and solid advice. Pregame network for being more like family than a platform. Blue Hill Productions for the few hits we were able to make. @Djaceofny for EVERY opportunity, the talks of encouragement, and seeing the vision! @Marzenchi_music for being my ride or die. Lincoln Bovell for all that you do since 2013!!! @kupkakekattyradioshow for seeing my talent and always inviting me to perform. Indi my homie for being with me this whole journey. Zouille and Serano for everything you guys do for me. @omgcornelio for playing my horribly mixed music at his shows when I was starting out. Lions Den shop for the investments. Man its so many people who have helped out, watched me grow and develop it would take me days thanking you all but know you are all appreciated. Extra special thanks to Brady Hirschhorn and the good folks at 1969 Pacific St, for all the money, energy, and effort put forth to support my livelihood. Can’t wait til I’m able to repay you!!!
LPS: Any last words?
Mone: Lastly I thought about giving up. I still think about it. But every time I do I see a message on my screen or get a phone call that stops me from quitting. This journey of the starving artist with talent and drive is hard af. I’m crying as I write this now because I know some people have this illusion of me making it look easy but this is a struggle. Not knowing if I’ll be able to eat today because I gotta save that money to make it to my next show, or how I’m gonna get the bread up for these next opportunities starts to get to you after a while. I won’t ever quit but it does seem a lot easier that this. I’m not a 9-5’er cuz 3 days into a job my anxiety got me cussing everybody out so I freelance and do construction but those jobs are few and far in between so for now I’m just trying anything positive that wont get me in trouble to save up but I know 6 months from now I’ll be in a different space. That’s what’s keeping my focus at this point. I’m always gonna give you the brutally honest Mone I am unfiltered no chaser so you can see I’m no different from you. Just really wanna say thank you to everyone for the support, kind words, shares, likes, views, listens, and anything done for my benefit… thank you all. I appreciate it frfr.
@FFMGMONE -IG @FFMGMONE – TWITTER @FFMGMONE – YOUTUBE FFMG MONE -FB
